The Top 10 Stories of 2009
Written by Nadine Bachan
Monday, 28 December 2009 07:56
This past year was defined by big change, shocking revelations, and the rampant power of celebrity. We saw underdogs soar, goliaths tragically topple, and watched our favourites say goodbye, whether we wanted them to or not. Without further delay, let’s revisit some of the most interesting stories of 2009.
10) The times they are a-changin’ in the music scene
Barenaked Ladies fans were stunned when singer/songwriter/guitarist Steven Page announced in February that he would be leaving the band after over 20 years together. Whether or not this departure was in direct relation to the musician’s earlier run-in with the law has been left to wide-spread speculation, but in any case the band is moving on without Page and is preparing to release their 12th studio album next March.
If you know anything about the hotheaded dynamics of this band, then you probably weren’t quite as shocked to hear that feuding brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher decided that they were finished with dysfunction as Noel finally left Oasis in late August after 18 years. Of course, Liam is soldering on with the remainder of the band, but without their primary songwriter, Oasis certainly won’t be the same.
And as for Aerosmith, while the latest reports shows Steven Tyler and Joe Perry are chummy as ever, camaraderie definitely wasn’t the case in early November when Perry ‘twittered’ that Tyler had left the band and later stated that Aerosmith was looking for a new lead singer. We’ll just have to wait and see what the New Year brings for these old rockers.
9) Joaquin Phoenix grows a beard and confuses everybody
Critically-acclaimed actor Joaquin Phoenix has wowed audiences with his talent, which is more than evident in films like Gladiator, The Village, We Own the Night, and Walk the Line (which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor). So, in what direction did he decide to take his career next? Retirement from acting and the pursuit of new life as a hip-hop artist, of course. To show people he was dead serious, he did the following: grew a gnarly beard, became morose, performed at embarrassing gigs, and allowed his brother-in-law, Casey Affleck, to film a documentary of his mortifying exploits. (We all remember his appearance on David Letterman as well.) When everyone was convinced it was all a huge farce, Phoenix responded: "This is not a joke. Might I be ridiculous? Might my career in music be laughable? Yeah, that's possible, but that's certainly not my intention." Okay then.
8) Late night television – it’s out with the old and in with the new (sort of)
It finally happened – Conan O’Brien’s caboose is in the big chair now. After 16 years hosting Late Night, O’Brien handed over the reins to Jimmy Fallon and began his stint as the host of The Tonight Show on June 1st. Fallon is doing surprisingly well in his new hosting duties, despite an unprofessional reputation gained by his awkward giggling fits throughout his entire run on SNL. Not to worry, Leno fans. Jay’s huge chin is still on the small screen, but now he’s the host of The Jay Leno Show, which premiered on September 14th and airing five nights a week on NBC... directly before Conan. Whoa, I just experienced déjà vu. (The show airs on City TV in Canada.) Oh, and David Letterman is still on CBS with his Late Show (apparently dealing with extortion and adultery).
7) He fought the law for 30 years ... and the law won
Roman Polanski was apprehended and arrested in Zurich on September 26th after many years of evading the law. Polanski has been a fugitive since in 1978 after he was found guilty of statutory rape after an incident with a 13-year-girl at his Hollywood home. Since that time, he had not set foot on American soil for fear of being prosecuted and, for a time, Europe was his safe haven. However, the US authorities were able to issue an international arrest warrant and he was finally nabbed while on his way to the Zurich Film Festival, where he was to accept a lifetime achievement award. The news had the media unearthing Polanski’s past, bringing the controversial director back into the limelight. He is currently under house arrest in a Swiss resort.
6) When presidency equals celebrity
Ever since Barack Obama’s inauguration as the 44th President of the United States, he and the other members of The First Family have become one of the most photographed in the world. Everything The President and The First Lady say, do, and wear ends up under deep analysis in some kind of pop culture and fashion magazine. And it doesn’t seem like the Obamas mind the attention at all as President Obama became the first sitting president to ever appear on The Tonight Show, where he laughed it up with Leno and (like most celebrity morons) and made the obligatory faux-pas comment – in this case, about the Special Olympics. The world wants to know how Michelle Obama tones her arms and wants to see photos of Barack in his swimming trunks. In between being a media darling and running the country, the President even had time to “earn” himself a Nobel Peace Prize. This is getting ridiculous, don’t you think?
5) A Canadian heavy metal band is revived
Sasha Gervasi brought three rockin’ Canucks back onto the scene with his acclaimed documentary Anvil!: The Story of Anvil. A clever and well-executed look at the band, their history, and love of music, the film received wide recognition by filmmakers and celebrities alike, beginning a global love affair with the heavy metal group. The result was immense praise for Gervasi and a huge resurrection of the band’s popularity. Anvil has since commenced touring and made an appearance on The Tonight Show in October. It goes to show you, good music never dies as long as there is someone out there to appreciate it.
4) A 48-year-old spinster from Scotland gains superstardom
When Susan Boyle walked onto the stage of Britain’s Got Talent in April you could just hear the snickering from the audience and visualize Simon Cowell’s brain spinning with jibes and snide remarks. But when she opened her mouth to sing a song from Les Misérables, all that could be said was “What a voice!” She was an instant star. It wasn’t long before the press was all over her and clambering to know more about this unknown who was hiding such a sensational voice. While she received the celebrity perks of a makeover, new wardrobe and face-time with magazines and record producers, she also had to deal with the mounting pressure and speculations of the celebrity life. The media attention took its toll on the poor woman who ended up in the hospital, exhausted and emotionally distressed. But she came out of it all triumphant and managed to release her fist album, appropriately titled I Dreamed a Night, on November 23rd.
3) Oprah announces the end
No, no, not the end of the world (Although for quite a few daytime-watching housewives it may certainly feel like it). The incomparable Oprah Winfrey tearfully announced in November that she would be retiring from The Oprah Winfrey Show in the fall of 2011 after 23 years of being on the air and winning the hearts and minds of millions of viewers. In two years, who will the masses turn to about what books to read, what products to buy, and what fashions to wear? Ellen DeGeneres? That ought to be interesting.
2) Deaths that shocked and saddened us
This year brought us the news of several untimely deaths of some of entertainment’s most prominent personalities. On March 18th, Natasha Richardson succumbed to a head injury she received during a ski trip in Quebec. The bizarre rumours surrounding actor David Carradine’s death in Thailand in early June had the world whispering about the man’s personal life and his family pleading for respect and privacy. Musician DJ AM, after miraculously surviving a deadly plane crash less than a year earlier, was found dead from a drug overdose in his apartment on August 28th. After two highly publicized illnesses, 
Hollywood darlings Patrick Swayze and Farrah Fawcett lost their fights with cancers. Fawcett (who died on the same day as MJ) was diagnosed in 2006. Swayze, who was working his way back up the fame ladder with a new TV series, was diagnosed in early 2008 with pancreatic cancer and passed away on September 14th. Filmmaker John Hughes and actress Brittany Murphy were both victims of sudden cardiac arrest – he died on August 6th at 59, she died on December 20th at only 32.
1) The death of the King of Pop
While many mourned the loss of several beloved entertainers, the most shocking news (and perhaps the biggest story of the year) was the untimely passing of Michael Jackson. While the world waited for the singer to return to the stage with his new concert production, This Is It, no one was aware of the man’s dependency on prescription medication, an addiction that would claim his life on June 25th. The entire world mourned the loss of a legend and was glued to the television as footage of his ambulance speeding him to the hospital aired on every news station. His death would become the catalyst for endless gossip as his young children surfaced (without masks), hundreds gathered at the televised memorial, and as his family, in typical Jackson style, dealt with Michael’s death in very odd ways (like a new reality show).
*Tomorrow: The 10 Best and 10 Worst Movies of 2009
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